Prof.
James G. May
Prof. James G. May, was born in Lincoln Co. IN., Apr. 21, 1805. He was
the eldest son of 9 children, 2 brothers and 2 sisters born to Jacob
& Eleanor McDonald May. The May family history is briefly this: In
the year 1700 a crowd of students of colleges and universities of a
portion of Germany, heated by drinking of crambamuli, a German drink,
uttered treasonable sentences against the crowned heads and potentates
of their native county, and threatened to deprive them of their kingly
power.
George May, great grandfather of James G. May, the subject of this
sketch, together with his brother John and 13 others, escaped arrest
and in sailors’ disguise took passage to America, landing at
Philadelphia in 1701. John May’s descendants settled in North Carolina,
Maryland and Virginia, afterwards spreading to KY., IN., and Ohio.
George May was the father of 7 sons and 2 daughters, and Jacob,
grandfather of James G. May, was the oldest. George died at
Philadelphia. Jacob settled in Maryland and settled near Baltimore and
there Jacob, father of James G. was born. Jacob, the second, settled in
KY., in 1783 at the age of 10 years with his parents. He came to IN.,
in 1825 and died at Martinsville, In Washington Co. in 1852.
William McDonald, grandfather of James G. May was born in Philadelphia,
and his parents were natives of Scotland. He served 7 years in the
Revolutionary Was; married a Miss Bell in North Carolina, she being a
near relative of John Bell, who was a candidate for Presidency in 1860.
James G. May never remembered when he learned his letters. At 6 years
of age he read sufficiently well to peruse the Bible unaided. From the
time he was 4 years old he was always a student up to the time of his
death. When 14 years of age he entered Morrison’s Academy and there he
acquired an extensive knowledge of the sciences. Not possessing the
means necessary to take a collegiate course, he began teaching at 16
years, in his father’s family and working on the farm, at the same time
pursuing privately the course his academic classmates were taking at
Center College, at Danville, KY. In 10 years he master the course
without 1 days attendance at college and in 1823 taught his 1st term of
subscription school.
In Nov. 1824, he came to IN., and in the Winter taught school in Brown
township, Washington Co. In 1825 he began reading law privately. The
greater part of his useful life was passed teaching school; about 7000
days in Washington county, 1,080 days in Decatur Co., 1,935 days in
Harrison Co. seminary, 1,170 days in New Albany as superintendent and
general instructor , 308 days scattering-making a total of some 11,000
days passed in the school room. It is not necessary to add that
Professor may made school teaching a success.
In 1838 he was admitted to practice law at Rushville, IN, and engaged
in legal pursuits. From Dec. 1832 to Nov.1834, he was editor of the
Western Annotator, at Salem. He was a Jacksonian in politics up to
1833, when his views changed on the question of banking, and in 1834 he
wrote the first article recommending William Henry Harrison for the
Presidency.
In 1856 he became a Republican and remained on till the day of his
death. During the bitter struggle between Nor & South, he was ever
found a warm supporter of the Union and Lincoln’s administration, and
often was threatened all manner of violence for his outspoken and
radical stand in favor of the Union. March 5th, 1826, he married Nancy
Armstrong, daughter of Benoni & Elizabeth McCoskey Armstrong.
Professor May, at the time of his death in the winter of 1888, bore the
honor of being the oldest schoolmaster in the State and longest in the
service.
William G. Mason
William G. Mason was born Mar. 5,
1840 and is a son of Lincoln & Laurania Dugan Mason, the former
born in the Green River Country of KY., about 1806, came to Harrison
Co. when young; the latter was born in this county about 1818. Lincoln
Mason disappeared very singularly. He was a cooper by trade, and it was
his custom every fall to go to Louisville, KY., and work at his trade
there during the Fall & Winter. In the Fall of 1851 he made his
usual trip to that city. He was seem by several acquaintances after his
arrival there, and then suddenly was lost sight of, and to this day has
remained lost to his family and friends. William G., the subject of
this sketch, is the 3rd in a family of 9 children. He was but 19 years
of age when his father so suddenly disappeared, and he became the
mainstay and help of his mother. In Sept. 1861, he enlisted in Co.A.
49th IN., Vol. Infantry. He participated in every battle and skirmish
in which the 49th took part, and their service was no child’s play. He
escaped without wound. At the close of the war he was discharged from
the army, and returned home to Harrison Co, when on the 24th of may
1867 he was married to Miss Rebecca Hornbeck, a native of Harrison Co.
and a daughter of Abraham Hornbeck, also a soldier in the late war,
serving in Co.E. 81st IN., Vol. Infantry. To Mr. & Mrs. Mason were
born 9 children, viz: Abe Lincoln, March 5, 1868; Minnie Dec. 24, 1870;
Doc. May 1, 1872; Patty, May 1, 1875; Daisy, Aug. 29, 1877; Florence
Oct. 16, 1880; Leoma June 16, 1882; Alice Sept.
9, 1884 and Lilly March 7, 1887. Mr.
Mason lives on a farm in Taylor Township, and is what may be termed a
successful farmer. He and his wife are consistent members of the
Baptist Church.
Sanford
Martin
Sanford Martin was born in Washington
Co. IN, Apr. 6, 1848, and is the son of Manoah Martin, who born near
Shelbyville, KY., about 1816. He came to IN., with his parents in
infancy, his father, Lewis Martin, being one of the Washington Co.
pioneers. Lewis Martin was a native of VA. emigrated to KY., and some
years later to IN. Manoah Martin married Sallie A. Wood, a daughter of
one of the early settlers of Wood Township, Clark Co., a township named
for him.
Sanford Martin, the subject of this
sketch, was reared to farm life and educated in the public schools of
the county. he was married in 1870 to Elizabeth Davis, a daughter of
Robert Davis, a native of KY., but who came to IN., with his parents in
1819. Mr. & Mrs. Martin have 6 children, Viz: Robert, Stella J,;
Manoah; Ida B.; Bethsadia M.; and Arvle. After marriage Mr. Martin
lived for some time in Clark Co. but finally removed to Harrison Co.
where he has since resided. He settled near the site of an Indian
village in what is now Spencer Township. His wife, the mother of
Elizabeth Davis Martin, was a daughter of Dennis Pennington, who was a
prominent man in the early history of Harrison.
He represented the county ion
Legislature at the 1st session, and at several successive terms after
that the State was organized. He built the Old State House now standing
in the public square in Corydon. His wife, the maternal grandmother of
Mrs. Martin, who was Elizabeth English, was captured by Indiana when
she was but 7 years of age, and kept in captivity until she was 14. Her
step father went on horseback to what is now the State of Minnesota for
her, but she would not return with him. One of her brothers then went
on foot for her, and she was induced to return to her people and to
civilization.
Mr. Martins owns 120 acres of choice
land in Spencer Co. Township, which is well improved. He devotes some
attention to growing small fruits, although he carries on general
farming.
He is a member of the Christian
Church.
Capt.
John W. Marshall
Capt. John W. Marshall is a native of
Hardin Co. KY., and was born Jan. 22, 1833. he is the son of John W.
& Margaret Hughes Marshall, of KY., and one of the illustrious
families so prominent in KY., and VA.
Cap’t. Marshall came to this county
38 years ago, and has lived most of the time in the township where he
now lives. In 1861 he raised a company of home guards 100 strong, which
he drilled thoroughly. Subsequently he raised Co. C. 53rd Infantry,
commanded by Col. Gresham. He was a captain of Co.C. over 2 years, and
was discharged on account of being disabled at Big Black River in the
latter part of 1862. He returned home and engaged in farming, which he
has continued ever since.
He has one of the finest farms in
Harrison Co. comprising 465 acres of very productive land, well
improved.
Capt. Marshall was married to Miss
Elizabeth Seig, daughter of Daniel F. Seig, a native of VA., who came
here among the pioneers; his father was John Seig, also an early
settler, and a native of VA. Cap’t Marshall has been commander of
Nevin Post, G.A.R.. As a farmer, he is one of the best and most
successful in the county. and owns one of the finest farms.
Samuel
P. McRae
Samuel P. McRae was born in Webster township, Harrison Co., Jan. 29,
1843, and is a son of Malcom & Mary (McRae)McRae, which makes him a
full bloodied McRae. They came to Indiana in an early day, and settled
in Harrison Co. His grandfather was Christopher McRae, a native of
North Carolina; was born about 1775, and a soldier of the War of 1812.
he married Mary McRae, a daughter of Alexander McRae, a Revolutionary
soldier, who was a son of Duncan McRae. Malcom & Mary McRae had 10
children, of whom Samuel P. the subject of this sketch was the eldest.
He was raised on a farm and received such education as afforded by the
common schools. He enlisted Sept. 28, 1865, in Co. G. 58th Indiana Vol.
Infantry, and was discharged June 25, 1865, by expiration of term of
service. He was, besides other service, with Gen .Sherman on his “March
to the sea” and bore a part in all the hardships of that long and
toilsome march. He was present at the surrender of Col. Joe Johnson,
and then went to Richmond and thence to Washington D.C. where he was
discharged as above. He was married Dec. 26,1878 to Miss Harriet Marsh,
born mar. 20, 1852, a daughter of James & Nancy Marsh, natives of
Harrison Co. they live on a farm entered by Malcom McRae’s father,
subject’s father, many years ago.
James
McRae
James A.
McRae, Harrison County's present efficient and accommodating
clerks, was born in Taylor Township, Harrison County Indiana February
16, 1845, the son of John and Telbartha (Robinson) McRae.
During the early
part of his life he attended the common schools, such as the community
afforded, and followed the occupation of a farmer until December 8,
1861, when he enlisted in Company K, 59th Regiment of Indiana
Volunteers, under General Pope. After two years service in the army he
contracted a case of typhoid fever and was sent to the army
hospital at New Albany, where he received his discharge from service.
In 1863 he attended W.W. May's seminary at Corydon and for a time was
engaged in teaching school
He was married to
Miss Zirilda A. Saffer, March 14, 1865, and to this union the following
children were born; Jessie A., Frank E., John D., Claud H., and
Millie V. Watson. His wife having died, he was married to Elizabeth
Kirkham, and to them one child was born, Edna M. Brown. His second wife
died November 17, 1887, and on July 31, 1889, he was married to his
present wife, who was Miss Jennie Black, daughter of Robert E. and
Matilda (Guntherman) Black of Posey Township.
He was elected
trustee of Taylor Township in 1884 and served four years and in 1904
was elected to the office he now holds, that of County Clerk.
"Uncle Jim" as he
is commonly called, is an honest, faithful and efficient officer, and
is serving the people and his party with great credit. He is a loyal
supporter of Democracy, a firm believed in Christian citizenship and is
a member of the Methodist Church.
John
McRae
John McRae was a son of Daniel A. McRae, and was born Feb. 12,1820. He
was the eldest in a family of 6 children, and was brought up on a farm,
receiving such education as was to be obtained at that day. When 22
years old he obtained a position on a steamboat on the Ohio and
Mississippi Rivers, rising to the head of the river profession.
During the war he was captain of the steamer “Diana” a prominent vessel
in the Government service. She was sent down the Mississippi river to
rid the country of the swarms of guerrillas then depudiating
(sic) upon all people alike.
Under the name of the Mississippi Marine Brigade, in command of Gen.
Elliott, they paroled the lower rivers, and treating guerrillas who
fell into their hands to a short shrift. The fleet was composed of 6
mammoth side wheelers and 4 stern wheelers. Mr. McRae served as captain
of one of the vessels about a year, when he was discharged for
disability. The marine Brigade accomplished the purpose for which it
was formed, it cleared the river country from guerrillas, and recovered
a large quantity of contraband goods. Capt. McRae is now the only
surviving captain of that famous fleet, the Marie Brigade, which left
New Albany, Apr. 6, 1863.
He married Miss Tilbartha Robinson, the daughter of James T, &
Christina Robinson, the former a native of Delaware, born in 1785, and
died in 1867, the latter born in 1823, and died June 11, 1838. To them
were born 5 children.
Capt. John McRae, whose portrait appears in this volume, after meeting
with the misfortune of being paralyzed on one side, arm and leg, he
retired from his active duties as a “river man” to his farm near Evans
Landing, where he has a beautiful home, surrounded with the comforts of
home and a happy family of children
There is no farmer or citizen in Harrison County more widely and
favorably known or a man who values honor and integrity among men
higher than Captain John McRae.
[A genealogical account of the McRae’s was written by John McRae, some
time minister of Duig Wall, in Ross-shire, who died in 1704. this was
transcribed and extended by Farquhar McRae, and from manuscript
received from Scotland, was printed for the private circulation by
Colin McRae, of Camden S.C. In the account there is reference to a
tradition of a “desperate re encounter betwixt 2 of the petty princes
of Ireland, in which a certain young man signalized himself by his
prowess, defending himself from a particular attack of the enemy, which
the others observing said, in Irish words “he was a fortunate son”. The
spelling of the original name McRath, was variously modified, according
to the pronunciation in the dialect of the particular locality, thus:
MacGrath, MacGraw, MacGrow, Mac Ray, MacRae, sometimes from an “ill
informed prejudice” the Mac was dropped and the name became Craw, Crow,
Ray, or Rae. In this country, a john McRae adopted the spelling McCrea
that he might be distinguished from the other McRae’s. Some of the
MacRaes, adherents of Colin Fitzgerald, came to Scotland as early as
1265. At a somewhat later date, probably, McRaes came to Kintail,
whence they widely diffused. The genealogist cited maintains that the
MacKensies, the MacRaes, and the MaClains were the same people in
Ireland. He gives as evidence to which the manners of the times would
give force, to the fact that a MacKensie, a MacRae, and a MacLain had a
tomb in the same place.
He also maintains that the Campbell’s of Scotland were of the same
stock, a McRae having married the heiress of Craigsnish, and changed
his name to Campbell. He seems to be proud of the fact that his McRa,
in changing his name did not change his blood. The Campbell’s and the
McRas maintaining a close intimacy throughout successive generations.
Whatever may have been the degree of relationship, or the comparative
prominence of the 4 clans, they were all brave in battle, constant in
friendship, and true to public pursuits. A large portion of the MacRas
in the United States of America are descendants from those who landed
in Wilmington N.C. before the Revolution. Others are descended from an
Episcopal minister sent to VA. by the British Crown. At an early period
one MacRae is known to have emigrated to New York. From these
progenitors have sprung many families of local prominence, and not a
few of wider distinction. Their chief merit, however, does not consist
in the fact that they have furnished their heroic soldiers, prosperous
farmers, successful merchants, able professionals, and wise
legislators, but rather in the fact that their law-abiding habits are
such that their names do not appears in the lists of convicts.]
Capt. John McRae’s grandfather, Alexander McRae, was born in Scotland
about 1745, married Catherine McRae, and with 1 child, left their
native country and came to America in 1773. He located in Wilmington,
N.C. he was a weaver by trade, and engaged in farming and weaving in
his new home. Four children were born to them, and then his wife died.
He afterward married Flora McRae, by whom he had 6 children. Of the 4
born of his first marriage, Daniel A. McRae(subjects father) was the
youngest.
Daniel A. McRae became a man of considerable prominence, receiving, for
that day, a liberal education. The early settlers of North
Carolina, of whom a large settlement, when the McRae’s located,
were from Scotland. They were not willing to rear their children in
ignorance, and so brought teachers from their native country, at their
own expense, an by this means Daniel A. McRae was well educated,
becoming proficient in the art of surveying as well as in other
branches of learning. He married Christina McDonald, in 1813, a
daughter of Angus McDonald, and came to Harrison Co. the next year,
locating upon the land the village of New Middletown now stands.
He followed surveying for 8-10 years, and was the second county
surveyor. He was also a millwright, and built many of the best mills in
the county. In 1840 he removed to Crawford Co., and soon after was
appointed surveyor of the county. he was elected to the lower house of
the Legislature in 1845, and made and efficient and working member.
When his term expired he was again appointed county surveyor. And about
the year 1850 he moved back to Harrison Co., where he died Aug.
16,1875, “full of years and full of honors”.
The subject of this sketch is descended from the North Carolina McRae’s
